Jessie Taylor
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, is available to stream on Max, Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel, and the Cinemax Amazon Channel. The film stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old girl whose family forgets her birthday due to her older sister Ginny's wedding. While dealing with the embarrassment and angst of adolescence, Samantha navigates an unrequited crush on Jake Ryan and fends off the advances of freshman Ted The Geek Farmer. With a talented young cast, Sixteen Candles is considered one of Hughes's best films, showcasing the complexities of teenage life in a funny and heartwarming way.
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What You'll Learn
The plot of Sixteen Candles
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by John Hughes in his directorial debut. The film stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha "Sam" Baker, a high school sophomore in suburban Chicago who is about to turn sixteen. On the eve of her birthday, Sam fills out a friend's sex quiz, revealing her crush on senior classmate Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling). Unbeknownst to her, Jake has noticed how she looks at him and asks his friend about her. However, Jake is already in a relationship with another popular girl, Caroline.
On her sixteenth birthday, Sam is shocked and disappointed when her family forgets the occasion due to her older sister Ginny's upcoming wedding. At school, she has to fend off the flirtations of freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer (Anthony Michael Hall), who has a crush on her. Despite her family's forgetfulness, Sam's father apologizes and assures her that if Jake doesn't see how wonderful she is, then he isn't worth her time.
The next day, Sam's mother also apologizes, and the family heads to church for Ginny's wedding. Meanwhile, Jake arrives at Sam's house, where a hungover friend miscommunicates that Sam is getting married. Jake finds Caroline cheating on him with Ted and breaks up with her. After the wedding, Jake surprises Sam at the church, invites her to his house, and gives her a birthday cake with sixteen candles. They share a kiss, fulfilling Sam's wish.
The film received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for Ringwald's performance. It is considered one of Hughes's best films and helped launch the careers of its lead actors.
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The cast of Sixteen Candles
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy Sixteen Candles features a young cast of extraordinary talents, including Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The film follows 16-year-old Samantha "Sam" Baker (Ringwald), who deals with her family forgetting her birthday due to her older sister Ginny's (Blanche Baker) wedding, while also navigating a crush on high school senior Jake Ryan (Schoeffling) and fending off the advances of freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer (Hall).
Molly Ringwald was just 15 when she was cast as Sixteen Candles' protagonist, Sam. The film marked the beginning of her work with director John Hughes, who subsequently cast her in iconic roles in The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986). Ringwald has since worked consistently in film, television, and theatre, taking on supporting roles in later years that harkened back to her teen stardom, such as in Not Another Teen Movie (2001) and The Kissing Booth (2018).
Michael Schoeffling played the heartthrob role of Jake Ryan, Sam's love interest. Sixteen Candles was one of Schoeffling's first film roles, and after appearing in several other movies, he left Hollywood for good in the early '90s. He has stayed out of the public eye since, with The Washington Post reporting that his last interview took place in 1991.
Anthony Michael Hall played the role of "Farmer" Ted, a geek with a crush on Sam. Like Ringwald, Hall was only 15 when he appeared in Sixteen Candles. Hall went on to appear in other John Hughes films, including The Breakfast Club and Weird Science (1985). He has continued to act, with more recent appearances including guest roles on Entourage, Community, and Psych, and a role opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween Kills (2021).
The Sixteen Candles cast also included Blanche Baker as Sam's sister Ginny, Justin Henry as her brother Mike, Paul Dooley as their father Jim, and Gedde Watanabe in a memorable performance as foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong.
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The director of Sixteen Candles
John Wilden Hughes Jr. was the director of the 1984 comedy-romance film Sixteen Candles. He was an American filmmaker and producer, born in Lansing, Michigan, and is best known for writing, producing, and directing classic 1980s films such as The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Uncle Buck. Hughes' films often combine slapstick comedy with heartfelt moments, capturing the teenage experience and shaping the teen movie genre.
Sixteen Candles was Hughes' directorial debut and won almost unanimous praise upon its release. The film is a coming-of-age story about a girl's sixteenth birthday, which is anything but special as her family forgets about it. It stars Molly Ringwald, who plays the average teen, Samantha Baker, enduring the usual high school embarrassments, while also trying to win the affection of the most popular guy in school. The film also features outstanding performances by Paul Dooley, Emmy winner Blanche Baker, and Oscar nominee Justin Henry.
Hughes helped launch the careers of several actors, including John Candy, Matthew Broderick, Anthony Michael Hall, and Macaulay Culkin. He has been called "the voice of a generation" and his films are often set in Chicago. Hughes' later output was not as well-received critically, and he passed away in 2009. His final film as a director was Curly Sue in 1991.
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The critical reception of Sixteen Candles
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, received generally positive reviews from critics. The film holds a score of 61 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". On Rotten Tomatoes, 81% of critics gave the film a positive rating, with an average score of 7.1/10.
Critics praised the performances of Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. Variety called Ringwald "engaging and credible", while Roger Ebert wrote that she "provides a perfect centre for the story" in "a sweet and funny movie". Janet Maslin of The New York Times echoed this sentiment, calling the film "a cuter and better-natured teen comedy than most".
Retrospectively, Sixteen Candles is considered to be one of Hughes's best films, helping to launch the careers of its three lead actors. The film is also credited with delivering several memorable lines, such as the one delivered by Paul Dooley's character, who plays the patriarch of the Baker family: "That's why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they'd call 'em something else."
However, Sixteen Candles has also been criticised for its portrayal of certain characters and themes. The character of Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, has been widely criticised as a "potentially offensive stereotype" of Asian people. The New York Times called the character "unfunny", and Asian Americans have complained that they were taunted with quotes of his stilted English lines. Additionally, the film has been criticised for its implication that the character Ted, played by Anthony Michael Hall, may have taken advantage of Jake Ryan's girlfriend, Caroline, while she was drunk.
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The impact of Sixteen Candles
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, has had a significant impact on pop culture and movie history. It is considered a classic '80s teen film and has influenced subsequent teen comedies, earning a dedicated fan base. The film's success helped launch the careers of its stars, including Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.
Sixteen Candles is particularly notable for its relatable and endearing characters, which drew audiences into their world and created an emotional connection. The mix of playful comedy, relatable social dynamics, and '80s style resonated with viewers, setting a template for Hughes' subsequent films in the genre, including The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986). The film also showcased the experiences of a teenage girl, Sam, played by Ringwald, as she navigated the challenges of adolescence, setting a precedent for more inclusive and diverse narratives in cinema.
The chemistry and dynamic between the cast members brought the characters to life and added depth to the storytelling. Ringwald's performance as the heart and soul of the film was especially praised, with critics calling her "engaging and credible" and providing "a perfect centre for the story". The film also featured breakout performances by Schoeffling and Hall, who portrayed relatable, coming-of-age characters that struck a chord with viewers.
Sixteen Candles has left a lasting impression on fans and continues to be celebrated and referenced in various forms of media, cementing its place in cinematic history. The film has also been released on DVD and Blu-ray, with special editions commemorating its anniversary, demonstrating its enduring popularity.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Sixteen Candles is not available on Starz. However, you can watch it on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel, or Max Amazon Channel.
Sixteen Candles is a coming-of-age comedy film about a girl, Samantha Baker, who deals with her family forgetting her 16th birthday due to her sister's wedding. She also has a crush on a senior in high school, Jake Ryan, and fends off the advances of freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer.
Sixteen Candles stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, Michael Schoeffling as Jake Ryan, and Anthony Michael Hall as Ted "The Geek" Farmer.
